Scientific Name: Mandrillus sphinx
Status: Endangered
Kumba's Story: Born in a zoo to a first time mother, Kumba was sadly rejected at birth. This sometimes happens to many species both in the wild and in the care of humans. Knowing we were interested in Mandrills, SWI was asked to take on this mammoth responsibility. We have been entrusted with him since he was only a month old and he will remain with us throughout his lifetime. It is our hope that he will bring greatly needed attention not only to the magnificent Mandrill, but also to many other threatened and endangered animals from the congo.
Facts: Mandrills are the world's largest and most colorful species of monkey. Males are considerably larger and more colorful in comparison to females. This iconic animal is well known by its distinctive red and blue colors on it's face, but also it's lavender and red hue on it's backside. It is believed that this beautiful coloration aids in courtship and helping individuals follow each other through the thick jungle. Much of the mandrills’ time is spent on the forest floor, but they often climb to the middle layer of trees in order to sleep. A group of Mandrills is referred to as a horde which consist of a dominate adult male, several adult females and their young. During the dry season, several hordes may join together to form a larger super horde that may have hundreds of individuals.
Range: Mandrills live in the dense equatorial rainforest of West Africa.
Conservation: Sadly, Mandrills are an endangered species for two primary reasons. One, like most endangered species from tropical regions, they are affected by deforestation. And two, they are considered to be a delicacy and are hunted for bushmeat (the consumption of wild animals for meat).